Nearly 7 months ago, 8 people died and 14 were hurt when a church bus carrying a group of seniors crashed into a semi-truck. Until now, we had never met the man the group calls their miracle.

It may be difficult for some to understand why the seniors at Front Street Baptist Church are full of laughter and song.

At their most recent Young at Heart meeting, a few dozen of the Statesville, North Carolina seniors joked about their age and sang hymns of praise with a visiting musician.

Nearly seven months ago, the group lost six members in a fiery bus crash with a semi on I-40 in Jefferson County. The other 12 seniors were hurt, many of them seriously injured. They were traveling home from an annual retreat in Gatlinburg.

During the drive, one of the couples, Marvin and Sandy Boyer, split up so Sandy could lay down in the back seat. Marvin stayed up front to talk to a friend.

"When the accident started I realized we were in trouble. I realized the tire had blown. I heard it blow," Sandy, 67, said.

The blowout caused the bus to cross the median, hit the semi-truck, and burst into flames.

After flipping on its side, the bus eventually skidded to a stop and the group started calling out to each other.

"I heard Sandy calling for someone to get a fire out. I think that was the most afraid I was. When these fumes were overwhelming us. And Sandy said, 'Lord, I know you didn't let us survive this far to let us be taken in fire,'" said survivor, Wanda Martin.

First responders arrived, put out the flames and began pulling the survivors off the bus.

"I looked around the bus and I only counted six," Sandy said.

At that moment, Sandy saw only six survivors out of the 18 people on board. Her husband, Marvin, wasn't one of them.

Cloyce Matheny, 95, died in the crash. The retired aeronautical engineer at Boeing Aircraft was the father of three sons and one daughter. He went on numerous mission trips with Front Street Baptist Church and volunteered at church and in the community. He went skydiving on his 90th and 93rd birthday. Cloyce’s best advice: “Don’t stop living until you die.” (Photo: Front Street Baptist Church)

Ed McLelland, 65, lost his wife Marsha, 62, in the crash. They have two daughters. Marsha had recently retired as an OR nurse and was excited about traveling and enjoying her retirement. Ed is a retired teacher. Ed is recovering from his injuries at home. Marsha enjoyed singing in the Joyful Singers choir. (Photo: Front Street Baptist Church)

Barbara and Randy Morrison died in the crash. The couple "was at the church whenever the doors were open. Sometimes they opened the door for people," their friend, Brenda Jolly, said. Randy was driving the bus the day of the crash, both were bus drivers. The couple had five children and five grandchildren. Both participated in many church activities. (Photo: Front Street Baptist Church)

Lynn Smith, 74, lost his wife Brenda, 69, in the crash. Brenda looked forward to the Gatlinburg trip the group was traveling home from as a highlight of her year. The couple have two daughters and four grandchildren. Brenda sang in two church choirs. Lynn is recovering at home. (Photo: Front Street Baptist Church)

Beverly, 63, lost her husband John, 73, in the crash. Young at Heart members say he "held us together on our activities." The couple have three sons between them and two grandchildren. The couple each taught Sunday School. Beverly is recovering from her injuries at home. (Photo: Front Street Baptist Church)

Sandy, 67, thought she had lost her husband Marvin, 74. He had 18 massive wounds and doctors told him he likely wouldn't survive. He spent 3 weeks in a coma and 5 months in rehab centers but he is back leading the group as the Senior Adult and Care Pastor. He is known as the "miracle of the group." Sandy never left his side and they continue to be active in Young at Heart and other service activities in the church. (Photo: Front Street Baptist Church)

The Elledges are healing at home now. Libby, 70, and Benny, 72, are able to attend church but cannot be as active as they would like at this point. Benny has more surgery to come. The couple have one child and one grandchild. (Photo: Front Street Baptist Church)

Norma Hellard, 78, broke five of her ribs and fractured bones throughout her lower body in the crash, but she is doing well now. She continues to be an active member of the Young at Heart group and the Joyful Singers. She also leads a bible study. (Photo: Front Street Baptist Church)

Brenda Jolly, 70, doesn't remember much from the crash after she heard the tire blow. She hit her head and remembers only items falling into her face. She spent one day in the hospital and then recovered at home. She continues to be an active member of Young at Heart and the Joyful Singers. (Photo: Front Street Baptist Church)

Wanda Martin, 63, suffered injuries in the crash. The music director and piano player injured her fingers and was told she may have to have them amputated. Thankfully, she was able to go home to Statesville to have surgery on her fingers. She continues to be active in her church and Young at Heart. (Photo: Front Street Baptist Church)

The Swaims both suffered serious injuries in the crash and remained in the hospital for several weeks. Doris, 69, played the piano for the church but is not able to at this point. Steve, 68, taught Sunday school. The couple has returned to church. (Photo: Front Street Baptist Church)

The Swaims both suffered serious injuries in the crash and remained in the hospital for several weeks. Doris, 69, played the piano for the church but is not able to at this point. Steve, 68, taught Sunday school. The couple has returned to church. (Photo: Front Street Baptist Church)

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"Marvin was not to be found. I started asking for him as soon as the bus stopped. It was about 10 after 2 and I didn't know about Marvin's whereabouts until 8:30 that night," she said.

Sandy's daughters, Marvin's step-daughters, dropped everything and drove across the state to be with their mother. When they started asking questions to give their mother a report on his condition, the medical staff told them they had no one by that name.

Hours later, the staff asked if Sandy's daughters could help them identify a surgery patient. The man had head wounds so massive, they made him unrecognizable.

"My oldest daughter looked down at his hands. And he has hands that play the piano beautifully. And his hands are a different shape. She looked down and said, 'That's Marvin! That's him that's his hands!' and they presented her with his ring," Sandy said, tears rolling down her cheeks.

In the chaos, Marvin had been misidentified as the bus driver, Randy Morrison. He died on scene.

Sandy was grateful she found her husband but doctors didn't have good news.

"He had 18 massive wounds in his body. He had four wound vacs, two chest tubes, stomach tubes. He was on a respirator. He had eight IVs going. He was on dialysis. A doctor told me in the vegetative state that he was in and the fact that he would be on dialysis the rest of his life, they did not give him much hope for survival. That just made me even stronger because God had something in store for him," Sandy said.

After three weeks in a coma and another five months in rehab centers, Marvin is back where he wants to be, attending every meeting and choir practice and leading the group in prayer.

"We thank the Lord all the time that he's showing his grace over and over and over again," Marvin said.

"He's our real miracle. He is," said Martin.

Marvin was spared some of the heartache because he doesn't remember any of the crash or even the weeks that followed.

"We have decided that this is a God thing," Sandy said.

But Sandy and several others on the bus that day do remember.

"We will never get over it. There are images that come to mind everyday no matter how busy we get," Martin said.

VIDEO: Part 2- Bus crash survivors say thanks to East TN

The group who calls themselves Young at Heart have nothing but praise for the people of East Tennessee. 4-25-14

Still there's a sense of peace at Front Street Baptist church: peace in knowing they have their faith and each other.

Many of the survivors are still recovering from their physical injuries as well as emotional pain. But they have nothing but praises about the care they received from strangers and medical staff here in East Tennessee.

"They came into our room with gifts, encouragement, prayer shawls, prayer blankets, prayer quilts, they brought us books that were in memory of someone that they loved that they lost. Even the family who lost their son in the accident brought us gifts. We were just taken a back by that," Sandy said.

A couple even offered up their home for Sandy to stay in while Marvin recovered in the hospital.

"God was all over Tennessee and God was all over Front Street Baptist Church in Statesville, North Carolina. What a privilege," said Beverly Hillard, Front Street Baptist Church member of 52 years. She wasn't on the bus that day but witnessed the outpouring of support that followed.

VIDEO: Full interview with Young at Heart group

Nearly 7 months ago, 8 people died and 14 were hurt when a church bus carrying a group of seniors crashed into a semi-truck. Until now, we had never met the man the group calls their miracle.